The popular sentiment on the fastest way to get people to conserve water is to raise water prices. Resources for the Future published the article “Use Prices to Conserve Water when Supplies are Scarce,” which you can read by visiting bit.ly/llrate. It encourages rate increases as an effective method to conserve water. In their sample, a 10 percent increase in water rates produced a 6 percent reduction in water use. Their conclusion is: Raising prices… Read more »

If you still want a green lawn but don’t want to pay the high cost for water , or have water restrictions that don’t allow for you to keep it green or maybe you just want to do your part for water conservation, painting your lawn green is an option. Aesthetically I believe having your lawn all one color is important. I don’t think it matters much if that… Read more »

Equity Management held a symposium concerning the drought in California and what homeowner associations should be focused on for excellent water management. There were several great presentations including one from Jon Epsten, an attorney at Epsten Grinnell & Howell. Jon’s presentation focused on how the scope of work and contract can make a significant difference in water management. He explained how the HOA contract can… Read more »

Even as Californians unite against the drought, I have been forced to build a dam to hold back the amount of negative press surrounding how much water Californians have been using this year. SF Gate reported in July “state data showed water use statewide has increased 1 percent over the past three years, despite calls from Gov. Jerry Brown for Californians to cut their water use… Read more »

Even as Californians unite against drought, I have been forced to build a dam to hold back the amount of negative press surrounding how much water Californians have been using this year. SF Gate reported in July “state data showed water use statewide has increased 1 percent over the past three years, despite calls from Gov. Jerry Brown for Californians to cut their water use by 20… Read more »

There is the same amount of water on earth today as when the earth was formed. The water that came from your faucet could contain molecules ancient humans drank. Think about this the next time you scoop up a handful of almonds. It takes over a gallon of water to produce just one almond. This is a great water fact for cocktail parties. Frozen water is 9% lighter than water, which is why ice floats… Read more »

Everyday I read about the benefits of killing your lawn and converting turf to a more drought tolerant landscape. However, even my friends who claim to have no green thumb at all still have a hard time killing turf. So if you are ready to channel your inner Norman Bates and kill your lawn, this post provides four ways to help you. Just remember it might resist more than you expect,… Read more »

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approved emergency drought regulations on July 15 prohibiting the application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes runoff. They also approved prohibiting potable water in a fountain or other decorative water feature unless the water is part of a recirculating system. The new water restrictions also bar residents and commercial water users from using drinkable water to hose off sidewalks… Read more »

For those of us who subscribe to the blog, every month is Smart Irrigation Month. The good news for us is the Irrigation Association created Smart Irrigation Month as an initiative to increase public awareness of the value of water-use efficiency and grow demand for water-saving products, practices and services. July is the selected month because it is typically the month water requirements are highest for… Read more »

Let’s start with the assumption you are an awesome water manager or at least have responsibility for water management on a property. Why would you need a checklist for water management? Creating checklists for routine and complex procedures helps you manage a specific set of parameters on a regular basis. As more tools become available to measure water use, consistency in management is a critical success factor. So, if you can consistently review these four… Read more »